No More Learning

'--'It was not I who
did it, I warrant you,' said he; 'I was not in the boat; old age has
not yet so dulled the faculties of Tyrrhenus. It was the fault of the
lubberly boys which occasioned this mishap, who, from ignorance of the
reefs, spread their nets in the wrong place. '

"Perceiving now that he was hard of hearing, I bawled out at the top
of my voice, 'Good day to you! Can you show us, who are strangers, a
place where we may find lodging? '--'The same to you,' answered he.
'You may, if you please, lodge with me; unless, perhaps, you are one
of those who require a great many beds and chambers, and have a large
number of servants with you. ' Upon my saying: 'I have only two children
with myself,'--'A very good number,' he replied, 'for you will find
my family consist of only one more. I have two sons who live with me;
their elder brothers are married and settled by themselves; I have,
besides, the nurse of my children, for their mother has been some time
dead; wherefore, good sir, do not hesitate, nor doubt that we shall
receive gladly one whose first aspect is venerable and prepossessing. '
I accepted his offer: and when I returned afterwards with Theagenes and
Chariclea, the old fisherman received us with great cordiality, and
assigned us the warmest and most convenient part of his habitation.

"The beginning of the winter passed here not unpleasantly. We lived
together in the day time: at night we separated. Chariclea slept in one
apartment, with the nurse, I in another, with Theagenes, and Tyrrhenus
in a third, with his children. Our table was in common, and well
supplied; the old man furnished it abundantly with provision from the
sea. We frequently amused our leisure by assisting him in fishing,
in which art he was very skilful, and had tackle for it in abundance,
and suited for every season. [17] The coast was convenient for placing
his nets, and abounded with fish, so that most people attributed his
success in his occupation to his good fortune alone, which was in
part, however, owing to his skill. Thus, for some time, we lived in
peace; but it is not permitted to the unhappy to be long at ease; nor
could the charms of Chariclea, even in this solitude, be exempt from
disturbance.

"The Tyrian merchant, that victor in the Pythian games, with whom we
sailed, was very annoying to me; he took every opportunity of pressing
me with earnestness, as a father, to grant him Chariclea in marriage.
He vaunted his family and his fortune. He said that the vessel in which
we sailed was entirely his property; and the greatest part of her
cargo, which consisted of gold, precious stones, and silk. He crowned
all these, and many other recommendations of himself, with his victory
in Greece, which he thought reflected no small lustre upon him. I
objected my present poverty, and that I could never bring myself to
dispose of my daughter in a foreign country, and at such a distance
from Egypt. 'Talk not of poverty,' he would reply; 'I shall esteem the
gift of Chariclea's hand more than a portion of a thousand talents.
Wherever she is, I shall look upon that place as my country; I am ready
to change my destined course to Carthage, and sail with you wherever
you please. '

"When, after some time, I saw the Phœnician relax nothing of
his importunity, but that he grew more urgent every day in his
solicitations, I determined to flatter him with fallacious hopes, lest
he should offer some violence to us in the island, and promised I would
do everything which he wished when we arrived in Egypt. But I had no
sooner thus quieted him a little, than a new wave of trouble came
rolling in upon me. [18]

"Old Tyrrhenus accosted me one day as I was wandering in a retired part
of the coast. 'My good Calasiris,' said he, 'Neptune is my witness,
and all the gods, that I regard you as my brother, and your children
as my own. I am come to discover to you a gathering danger which will
occasion you great uneasiness, but which I cannot, with any regard
to the laws of hospitality, conceal from one who lodges under my
roof, and which it concerns you much to be acquainted with. A nest of
pirates, concealed under the side of yonder promontory, are lying in
wait for your Phœnician vessel. They are continually on the watch for
your sailing out of port. I caution you, therefore, to beware, and to
consider what you have to do; for it is on your account, or rather, as
I suspect, on account of your daughter, that they have conceived this
audacious design, which they are but too well prepared for. '

"'May the gods reward you,' said I, 'for your kind information; but, my
dear Tyrrhenus, how did you obtain, your intelligence? '--'My trade,' he
answered, 'makes me acquainted with these men; I take fish to them, for
which they pay me a better price than others; and yesterday, as I was
taking up my nets on the shore, Trachinus, the captain of the pirates,
came and asked me if I knew when the Phœnicians intended to set sail.
I, suspecting his intent, replied, that indeed I did not exactly know,
but I supposed that it would be early in the spring. "Does the fair
maiden, who lodges at your house, sail with them? "--"I really don't
know," said I. "But why are you so curious? "--"Because I love her to
distraction," he returned. "I did so at first sight. I never saw a form
comparable to hers; and yet my eyes have been used to beauty, and I
have had in my power some of the most charming captives of all nations. "

"'I wished to draw him on a little, that I might get acquainted with
his design. "Why," said I, "should you attack the Phœnicians; cannot
you take her away from my house without bloodshed, and before they
embark? "--"The regard I have for you," he returned, "prevents me from
doing this. There is a sense of honour even among pirates towards
friends and acquaintances. If I were to carry off the strangers from
your house, it might bring you into some trouble; they would probably
be required at your hands. Besides, by waiting for them at sea, I
obtain two ends: I may make myself master of a rich vessel, as well as
of the maid I love. One of these I must necessarily give up, if I make
the attempt by land; neither would it be without danger so near the
city: the inhabitants would soon become acquainted with my enterprize,
and pursuit would be immediate. " I praised his prudence, and left him.
I now discover to you the design of these villains, and beseech you to
adopt means for the preservation of yourself and your children. '

"Having heard this, I went away in great trouble, and revolving various
thoughts in my mind, when I met, by accident, with my Tyrian merchant.
He talked to me on the old subject, and gave me occasion to try him on
a scheme which just then struck me. I related to him just as much of
the fisherman's discovery as I thought proper. I told him that one of
the inhabitants of Zacynthus, who was too powerful for him to resist,
had a design to carry off Chariclea. 'For my part,' I added, 'I had
much rather give her to you, as well on account of our acquaintance as
of your opulent condition; and, above all, because you have promised to
settle in our country after your marriage; if, therefore, you have this
alliance much at heart, we must sail from hence in all haste, before
we are prevented, and violence is offered. ' He was much pleased at
hearing me talk in this manner. 'You are much in the right, my father,'
he said; and, approaching, kissed my head, and asked me when I would
have him to set sail, for though the sea was at this season hardly
navigable, yet we might make some other port, and so, escaping from
the snares laid for us here, might wait with patience the approach of
spring. --'If,' I replied, 'my wishes have weight with you, I would sail
this very night. '--'Be it so,' said he, and went away.

"I returned home. I said nothing to Tyrrhenus; but I told my children
that, at the close of the day, they must embark again on board the
vessel. They wondered at this sudden order, and asked the reason of it.
I excused myself from explaining it then; but said, it was absolutely
necessary that it should be obeyed.

"After a moderate supper I retired to rest; but I had no sooner
fallen asleep, than an old man[19] seemed to appear to me, in a dream:
withered and lean, in other respects, but showing, from the muscular
appearance of his knees, the marks of former strength. He had a helmet
on his head; his countenance was intelligent and shrewd, and he seemed
to drag one thigh after him, as if it had been wounded. He approached
me, and said with a sarcastic smile,--'Do you alone treat me with
contempt? All those who have sailed by Cephalene, have been desirous
to visit my habitation, and to contemplate my glory; you only seem
to despise me, and have not given me so much as a common salutation,
though you dwell in my neighbourhood. But you shall soon suffer
for this negligence; and shall experience the same calamities, and
encounter the same enemies, both by sea and land, which I have done.
But address the maiden you have with you in the name of my consort; she
salutes her, as she is a great patroness of chastity, and foretells
her, at last, a fortunate issue to all her troubles. '

"I started up, trembling, at the vision. Theagenes asked what ailed me.
'We shall be too late,' said I, 'for the ship is sailing out of port;
it is this thought which has disturbed and awakened me; but do you get
up and collect our baggage, and I will go and see for Chariclea. ' She
appeared at my first summons: Tyrrhenus, too, got up, and inquired what
we were about. 'What we are doing,' said I, 'is by your advice; we are
endeavouring to escape from those who are lying in wait for us; and
may the gods preserve and reward you for all your goodness to us: but
do you add this to all the favours you have already bestowed upon us;
pass, I pray you, into Ithaca, and sacrifice for us to Ulysses, and
beseech him to moderate the anger which he has conceived against us,
and signified to me this night in a dream. ' He promised he would do so,
and accompanied us to the ship, shedding tears abundantly, and wishing
us a prosperous voyage, and all sorts of happiness. In short, as soon
as the morning star appeared, we set sail, much against the will of the
crew, who were with difficulty persuaded by the Tyrian merchant, when
they were told, that it was in order to escape from a pirate, who lay
in wait for them. He knew that what they thought a fiction, was the
sober truth.

"We encountered adverse winds, a swelling sea, and almost continual
tempests; we lost one[20] of our rudders; had our yard-arms much
injured, and were in imminent danger of perishing, when we reached a
promontory of Crete: here we determined to stay a few days, to repair
our vessel and refresh ourselves. We did so, and fixed for putting
again to sea the first day of the new moon, after her conjunction with
the sun.

"We set sail, with a gentle south-west wind, directing our course
towards Africa, which our pilot used all his endeavours to reach as
soon as he could; for he said he had for some time observed a vessel
hovering at a distance, which he took for a pirate. 'Ever since we left
Crete,' says he, 'she has followed us; she steers the same course,
and without doubt it is by design, not accident; for I have often
changed my track, on purpose to see if she would do the same, and she
has always invariably done so. ' A great part of the crew were alarmed
at this intelligence, and began to exhort each other to prepare for
defence; others neglected it, and said it was a very common thing for
small ships to follow in the wake of larger ones, for the sake of being
directed in their way.

"While they were thus disputing, evening[21] approached; the wind
slackened gradually, breathed gently on the sails and now made them
flutter a little, but hardly swelled them at all. At length it subsided
into a dead calm, setting with the sun, or retiring, as I may say, to
give advantage to our pursuers; for while there was a fresh gale our
ship, spreading more canvas, far out-sailed them; but when the wind
dropped, when the sea was smooth, and we were driven to make use of our
oars, this light and small vessel soon came up with our large and heavy
one. When they came near, one of the crew, an inhabitant of Zacynthus,
cried out: 'We are undone, this is a pirate crew: I am well acquainted
with the ship of Trachinus. '

"We were thunderstruck at this intelligence, and, in the midst of a
sea calm, our vessel shook with a tempest of confusion; it was full of
tumult, lamentation, and hurrying up and down. Some ran into the hold;
others encouraged one another to resist and fight; a third party were
for getting into the boat, and so attempting an escape. While they were
thus in confusion, and mutually hindering each other, the approach of
danger put an end to their disputes, and every one seized upon the
weapon which was nearest to him.

"Chariclea and myself, embracing Theagenes, were hardly able to
restrain his ardent spirit which was boiling for the fight; she
assuring him that death should not separate them; but that the same
sword which wounded him, should put an end to her life. I, as soon as
I knew that it was Trachinus who pursued us, began to consider how
best to promote our future safety. The pirates coming close up with
us, crossed our course, and being very desirous of taking us, did not
use their arms; but rowing round us, prevented our farther progress,
like besiegers wishing to make us surrender upon terms. 'Fools,' they
cried out, 'why are you so mad as to make a show of defence against so
superior a force? drawing upon yourselves certain destruction! We are
as yet disposed to treat you kindly; you may even now, if you please,
get into your boats, and save your lives. '

"So long as a bloodless war was waged, the Phœnicians were bold enough
and refused to quit the vessel. But when one of the pirates, more
daring than his fellows, leapt into the ship, and began to cut at
them right and left with his sword, and they became sensible that the
matter was now serious, and that wounds and blood must settle it, they
repented of their boldness, fell at their enemies' feet, begged for
quarter, and promised to do whatever they were ordered.

"The pirates, although they had already begun the fight, and though the
sight of blood commonly whets the angry passions, yet, at the command
of Trachinus, unexpectedly spared the supplicants. A truce ensued, but
a truce more dreadful, perhaps, than battle: it had the name of peace,
but war would have been scarcely less grievous. The conditions of it
were, that every man should quit the ship, with a single garment, and
death was denounced against any one who should violate these terms. But
life, it seems, is preferred by mankind before all other things; and
the Tyrians (robbed as they were of their ship and wealth), as if they
had gained rather than lost, contended with each other who should be
the first to leap into the boat and so preserve their lives.

"When we came into his presence, according to command, Trachinus,
taking Chariclea by the hand said; 'We wage not war against you, my
charmer; although the hostilities are undertaken on your account. I
have all along been following you, ever since you left Zacynthus,
despising for your sake the sea and danger; be of good cheer, then, I
will make you mistress, with myself, of all these riches. ' It is the
part of prudence to seize upon the opportunity. So she, remembering
some of my instructions, smoothed her brow, which this sudden storm had
ruffled, and composed her countenance to winning smiles. --'I give the
gods thanks,' says she, 'for inspiring you with merciful sentiments
towards us; but if you would win, and keep my confidence, give me this
first mark of your goodwill--preserve to me my brother and my father,
and do not order them to quit the ship, for I cannot live without
them;' and with this she fell at his feet, and embraced his knees. [22]

"Trachinus, thrilling with pleasure at her touch, that he might enjoy
it the longer, purposely delayed granting her request. At last, melted
by her tears, and subdued by her looks, he raised her up, and said--'I
grant your prayer, as to your brother with pleasure, he seems a youth
of spirit and may help us in our trade; but as for the old man, who is
but useless lumber, if I preserve him, it is only out of great regard
to your entreaties. '

"While this was passing the sun set, and the dusk of twilight
surrounded us; the sea began to swell on a sudden, whether on account
of the change of season, or the will of fortune, I know not; the
sound of rising wind was heard. In a moment it swept down upon the
sea, in stormy gusts, and filled the hearts of the pirates with
tumult and apprehension; for they were overtaken with it after they
had left their own bark, and had got on board our ship for the sake
of plunder; this, from its size, they were unused to, and unable to
manage: their[23] seamanship was all extemporised and self-taught,
each for himself, boldly exercised some department of his art. Some
furled the sails, others clumsily pulled the ropes; one bungler ran
to the prow,[24] another attempted to manage the tiller at the stern;
so that we were in imminent danger, not so much from the fury of the
storm, which was not yet very violent, as from the ignorance and
unskilfulness of the sailors and pilot, who as long as there was any
glimmering of light, made a show of resisting the tempest; but, when
darkness overshadowed us, totally gave the matter up. The waves now
burst over us, and we were in peril of going to the bottom, when some
of the pirates made an attempt to get again on board of their own bark,
but were hindered and stopped by the rage of the increasing tempest,
and by the exhortations of Trachinus; who told them, that if they
would preserve the ship on board of which they were, together with its
wealth, they might buy a thousand such boats as their own. At length
they cut the cable by which it was kept in tow, maintaining that it
might be the cause of a fresh storm to them, and that by so doing he
provided for their future security; for if they should touch at any
port, bringing an empty bark with them, an inquiry would naturally
be made as to its crew. His comrades approved of what he had done,
and found him to have shown his sense in two respects; for they felt
the ship a good deal eased after the bark was turned adrift, but the
tempest was by no means appeased; they were still tossed by wave[25]
following upon wave, the vessel suffered much injury, and was in great
danger. Having with difficulty weathered the night, we drove all the
next day, and towards the end of it made land, near the Heracleotic
mouth of the Nile, and, against our wills, disembarked on the coast
of Egypt. Our companions were full of joy; we were overcome with
grief, and we felt ill-will to Neptune for our preservation--we should
have preferred a death free from insult at sea, to a more dreadful
expectation on land, and a continual exposure to the lawless wills
of the pirates. They began to act in accordance with their nature
on landing; for, proposing to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to
Neptune, they brought Tyrian wine, and other requisites for the
ceremony, out of the ship; and sent some of their comrades with store
of money into the country, to buy up cattle, bidding them pay whatever
price was asked. As soon as these returned with a whole herd of sheep
and swine, the pirates who had stayed behind immediately set fire to a
pile, sacrificed the victims, and prepared the feast.

"Trachinus took an opportunity of leading me aside, and thus addressed
me;--'Father, I have betrothed your daughter to myself; and am
preparing to celebrate the marriage this very day, combining the most
delightsome festival with this sacrifice to the gods. That you may
partake cheerfully of the approaching entertainment, and that you may
inform your daughter, who, I hope, will receive the intimation with
joy, I give you this previous notice of my intentions; not that I want
your consent to put them in execution; my power is a pledge for the
performance of my will: but I have thought it fitting and auspicious
to receive a willing bride from the hands of a parent, who shall have
before apprised and persuaded her. '

"I pretended approval of what he said, and gave thanks to the gods who
had destined my daughter to the honour of being his spouse; and then
retiring, I began to consider what I could do in this conjuncture. I
soon returned, and besought him that the nuptials might be celebrated
with greater pomp and circumstance than he seemed to hint at--that he
would assign the vessel as a bridal chamber for Chariclea; that he
would give orders that none might enter or disturb her there, that she
might have time to get ready her wedding dress, and make other needful
preparations for the ceremony; for it would be most unseemly, that she,
whose family was illustrious, and wealth considerable; and above all,
she who was about to be the bride of Trachinus, should not have what
preparation and ornament the present occasion would permit; although
the shortness of the notice, and inconvenience of the place, would not
allow the celebration of the nuptials with that splendour which was
befitting their station.

"Trachinus was overjoyed at hearing me talk in this manner; and
said he would, with the greatest pleasure, order everything as I
desired. In consequence of this, he gave strict directions that no one
should approach the ship after they had taken everything out of it
they wanted. They conveyed out tables, cups, carpets, canopies--the
works[26] of Tyrian and Sidonian hands, and every requisite for
ministering to and adorning a feast. They carried in disorder upon
their shoulders, heaps of rich furniture and utensils, collected
with great care and parsimony, but now destined to be defiled by the
licentiousness of a tumultuous entertainment. I took Theagenes, and
went to Chariclea; we found her weeping. 'You are accustomed, my
daughter,' said I, 'to these reverses, and yet you lament as if they
were new to you. Has any fresh misfortune happened? '

"'Everything is unfortunate,' she replied; 'above all, the fatal
passion of Trachinus, which there is now but too much reason to
fear, both from his circumstances and opportunities, that he will
soon attempt to gratify. Unexpected success inflames the desires
of a licentious mind; but he shall have reason to rue his detested
love. Death, certain death, shall withdraw me from his pursuit: yet
the thought of being divided from you, and from Theagenes, if such a
separation should become necessary, dissolves me into tears. '--'Your
conjectures are but too true,' I replied: 'Trachinus is resolved to
turn the entertainment, which usually follows a sacrifice, into a
nuptial ceremony, and there you are to be the victim. He discovered his
design to me, as to your father; but I was long ago acquainted with
his violent passion for you, even ever since the conversation which I
had with Tyrrhenus, at Zacynthus. But I concealed what I knew, that I
might not prematurely afflict you with the dread of impending calamity,
especially as I had hopes of escaping it. But since, my children, fate
has ordered otherwise, and we are now in such hazardous circumstances;
let us dare some noble and sudden deed; let us meet this extremity
of danger courageously, and either preserve our lives with bravery
and freedom, or resign them with fortitude and honour. ' When they
had promised to act as I should order, and I had directed them what
they were to do, I left them to prepare themselves, and sought the
pirate next in command to Trachinus. His name, I think, was Pelorus: I
accosted him and told him that I had something agreeable to disclose to
him. He followed me readily to a retired place, and I went on:

"'Son,' said I, 'hear in few words, what I have to say to you; the
opportunity admits not of delay, or long discourse--to be brief, my
daughter is in love with you. No wonder; you have fascinated her with
your appearance, but she suspects that your captain will seize this
opportunity of the sacrifice to marry her himself: for he has ordered
her to be dressed and adorned as elegantly as her present time admits
of. Consider then how you may best frustrate his intention, and obtain
the damsel for yourself, who says she will rather die than become the
spouse of Trachinus. ' Pelorus listened eagerly to me: and then replied,
'Be of good cheer, father; I have long felt an equal affection for
your daughter, and was seeking an opportunity of getting into her
good graces. Trachinus therefore shall either voluntarily resign this
maiden to me (to whom besides, I have a just claim, as having been the
first to board your vessel), or he shall feel the weight of my hand,
and his nuptials shall bear bitter fruits. ' After this conversation
I retired, that I might raise no suspicion. I went to my children--I
comforted them--I told them that our scheme was in a very good train.
I supped afterwards with our captors. When I observed them warm with
wine, and ready to be quarrelsome, I said softly to Pelorus (for I had
designedly placed myself near him), 'Have you seen how the maiden is
adorned? '--'No,' said he. --'You may then, if you please,' I returned,
'if you will go aboard the vessel; privately though, for Trachinus has
forbidden all access to it. You may there see her sitting, like the
goddess Diana; but moderate your transports; take no freedoms, lest you
draw down death both on yourself and her. '

"After this he took the first opportunity of withdrawing secretly, and
entered with all speed into the ship. He there beheld Chariclea, with
a crown of laurel on her head, and refulgent in a gold-embroidered
robe, (for she had dressed herself in her sacred Delphic garments,
which might, as the event should turn out, be either funereal or
triumphant); everything about her was splendid, and bore the semblance
of a bridal chamber. Pelorus was all on fire at the sight. Desire and
jealousy raged in his bosom. He returned to the company, with a look
which indicated some furious design. Scarcely had he sat down, when he
broke out--'Why have I not received the reward which is justly due to
me for having first boarded our prize? '--'Because you have not demanded
it,' replied Trachinus. 'Besides, there has yet been no division of
the booty. '--'I demand then,' said Pelorus, 'the maiden whom we have
taken,'--'Ask any thing but her,' said the captain, 'and you shall
have it. '--'Then,' returned the other, 'you break cutter's law, which
assigns to the first who boards an enemy's ship, and meets the danger,
the free and unrestricted choice of taking what he will. '--'I do not
mean to break our private law,' said Trachinus; 'but I rest upon
another law, which commands you all to be obedient to your captain.
I have a violent affection for this maiden--I propose to marry her;
and think I have a right, in this instance, to a preference: if you
oppose my will, this cup which I hold in my hand, shall make you rue
your opposition. ' Pelorus, glancing his eyes on his companions--'See,'
says he, 'the guerdon of our toils; just so may each of you be deprived
of your rewards! ' How, Nausicles, shall I describe the scene which
followed? You might compare the company to the sea agitated by a
sudden squall of wind: rage and wine hurried them headlong into the
wildest excesses of tumult. Some took part with their captain, others
with his opponent; some called out to obey their captain, others to
vindicate the violated law. At length Trachinus raised his arm in act
to hurl a goblet at Pelorus; but at that instant the other plunged a
dagger into his side, and he fell dead on the spot. The fray now became
general: dreadful blows were dealt on all sides; some in revenge of
their captain, others in support of Pelorus; wounds were inflicted and
received by sticks and stones, by cups and tables--shouts of victory
and groans of defeat resounded everywhere. I retired as far as I could
from the tumult, and gaining a rising ground, became, from a secure
spot, a spectator of the dreadful scene. Theagenes and Chariclea did
not escape a share in it; for he, as had been before agreed upon,
joined himself sword in hand, to one of the parties, and fought with
the utmost fury; she, when she saw the fight began, shot her arrows
from the ship, sparing only Theagenes. She herself did not join either
side, but aimed at the first fair mark she saw, herself being all the
while concealed, but sufficiently discovering her enemies by the light
of their fires and torches: they, ignorant of the hand which smote
them, thought it a prodigy, and a stroke from heaven.

"All the crew besides being now stretched on the ground, Theagenes
was left closely engaged in fight with Pelorus, an antagonist of
tried courage, exercised in many a scene of bloodshed. Chariclea
could now no longer assist him with her shafts, she dreaded lest in
this hand-to-hand engagement, she might wound her lover instead of
his antagonist. The event of the fight was for some time doubtful; at
length Pelorus began to give way. Chariclea, deprived of all other
means of assisting him, encouraged him with her voice. 'Be strong,' she
cried out, 'be of good cheer, take courage, my life! '

"Her words inspired her lover with fresh spirit and resolution: they
reminded him, that she, the prize of victory, still lived. Regardless
of several wounds which he had received, he now made a desperate
effort, rushed upon Pelorus, and aimed a fearful sword-cut at his
head; a sudden swerve occasioned him to miss his blow, but his blade
descended on his enemy's shoulder, and lopped off his arm above the
elbow. The barbarian now had recourse to flight; Theagenes pursued
him. What followed I am not able to relate--he came back without my
perceiving it. I still remained on the eminence to which I had retired,
not daring, in the night time, to proceed any farther in a hostile
country. But he had not escaped the eye of Chariclea. I saw him at
break of day lying, in a manner, dead; she sitting by, lamenting, and
ready to kill herself upon him, but restrained by a glimmering of hope
that he might still survive. I, thunderstruck at the suddenness with
which our misfortunes by land had succeeded those by sea, was not able
to speak. I could neither inquire into the particulars of the situation
in which he had returned, nor attempt to comfort her, nor relieve him.

"At break of day, after I had descended from my eminence, I saw a band
of Egyptian pirates coming down from a mountain which overlooked the
sea. [27] In a twinkling they had seized, and were carrying off, the
youthful pair, together with what plunder they could take with them
from the ship. I followed them at a distance, lamenting my own, and my
children's misfortunes, unable to succour them, and thinking it best
not to join them; cherishing some faint hope of future assistance. But
I soon felt my own unfitness for the task, being left far behind by the
Egyptians, and unable to follow them through steep and rugged roads.
Since that time, until the recovery of my daughter, by the favour of
the gods, and your goodness, Ο Nausicles, my days have passed in sorrow
and tears. "

Having said this, he wept. All who heard him wept with him; and a
lamentation, not wholly unmixed with pleasure, pervaded the whole
company. Tears readily flow when the head is warm with wine. At length
Nausicles applied himself to comfort Calasiris.

"Father," said he, "be of good cheer, you have already recovered your
daughter, and this night alone divides you from the presence of your
son. To-morrow we will wait upon Mithranes, and do all in our power to
ransom and free Theagenes. "--"No wish is nearer to my heart," replied
Calasiris, "but it is now time to break up our entertainment: let us
remember the gods, and join with our libations, thanksgiving for my
child's deliverance. " Upon this the vases for libation were carried
round, and the company dispersed.

Calasiris looked about for Chariclea; and having long watched the crowd
as they came out, and not seeing her, at length he inquired for her of
one of the women, and by her information went into the temple, where he
found her fallen into a deep sleep, embracing the feet of the image of
the deity, wearied by long prayer, and exhausted by grief. He dropped a
tear over her, breathed out a petition for her happiness, and, gently
waking her, conducted her to his lodging, blushing at her imprudence,
in having suffered herself to be surprised by sleep in such a place.
Here, in her chamber, with the daughter of Nausicles, she laid herself
down to rest, but wakefulness compelled her to ruminate upon her
sorrows.


[Footnote 1: οἷον προσεγέλα τῆ πρύμνη.
"There, mildly dimpling, ocean's cheek
Reflects the tints of many a peak
Caught by the _laughing tides_ that lave
These Edens of the eastern wave. "--Byron.

". . . . ποντίων τὲ κυμάτων
ἀνήριθμον γελασμα. "--Æsch. P. V. 90.

". . . of ocean's waves
The multitudinous smile. "
]

[Footnote 2: Ωξεῖαι. ]

[Footnote 3:

"Qualis populeâ mœrens Philomela sub umbrâ
Amissos queritur fœtus; quos durus arator
Observans nido implumes detraxit; at illa
Flet noctem, ramoque sedens miserabile carmen
Integrat, et mœstus late loca questibus implet. "
Virg. G. iv. 511.
]

[Footnote 4: Έρμαῖ--four-cornered stone pillars ending with a bust of
Mercury, and set up in public places. ]

[Footnote 5: ἔλαθον σαγηνευθἐντες. For an account of the Persian mode
of clearing a conquered country by joining hands and so sweeping the
whole face of it, see Herod. vi. 31. ]

[Footnote 6:

". . . . Simul ac vaga luna decorum
Protulit os. "--Hor. I S. viii. 21.
]

[Footnote 7:

"A precious ring that lightens all the hole;
Which like a taper in some monument
Doth shine upon the dead man's earthy cheeks
And shows the ragged entrails of this pit. "
Titus Andronicus.
]

[Footnote 8: Σφενδόνη. ]

[Footnote 9: Aμἐθυστoς is compounded of the private particle α, and
μέθυ, wine, or μεθύω, to be drunk. ]

[Footnote 10: In Longus, B. iv. , there is a curious description of the
effect produced upon Daphnis's goats, by the different notes which he
plays upon his pipe. ]

[Footnote 11: ἐμβατήρια. --Literally, airs suitable for a march or an
embarkation. ]

[Footnote 12: λόγους eἰς εὐωχίαν ἐρανιζομενός. ἕρανος--a meal to which
each contributed his share either in victuals or money. ]

[Footnote 13: Nausicles was to assist him in the recovery of Theagenes,
whom he regarded in the light of a son. ]

[Footnote 14: See beginning of Book V. ]

[Footnote 15: South of Ætolia, the modern Gulf of Patras. ]

[Footnote 16: These islands, mentioned before, lie south-west of
Acarnania. ]

[Footnote 17: In Idyll. xxi. of Theocritus, the fisherman's tackle is
described--

"The basket, rush trap, line, and reedy shaft,
Weed-tangled baits, a drag-net with its drops,
Hooks, cord". . . . --Chapman's Tr.
]

[Footnote 18:

"Κῦμα ίπ'ι κῦμα προσίβαλλεν ὁ δαίμων,
Οἷός σε χειμὼν καὶ κακῶν τρικυμία,
Ἕπεισ' ἃφυκτος. "--Æsch. P. V. 1015.
]

[Footnote 19: Ulysses. ]

[Footnote 20: A ship had one, but more commonly two rudders. (See Acts
xxvii. 40. ) In the Caspian Sea, where the old practice not long ago
remained in force, a modern traveller was nearly shipwrecked, because
the rudders were in the hands of two pilots _who spoke different
languages_. To obviate such disasters among the ancients, the same
steersman held both tillers, if the boat was small. In larger ships
the extremities of the helms were joined by a pole, which was moved by
one man and kept the rudders always parallel. --Smith's Greek and Rom.
Antiq. ]

[Footnote 21: ἧν μὲν ἥδε τῆς ἡμέρας ὅτε ἀρότρου βοῦν ἐλeυθερoῖ γηπόνος.
Adverbially in Homer, βουλυτόνδε, at eventide. --Il. xvi. 779. ]

[Footnote 22: Raphael has chosen this incident for the subject of a
painting. ]

[Footnote 23: πᾶν ναυτιλιάς ἐσχεδιάζετο. ]

[Footnote 24: On the duties of the πρῳρεύς and the amount of nautical
skill required in the pilot, see Potter's Antiq. ii. 144-146. ]

[Footnote 25: τρικυμίαις επαλλήλοις ἐλαυνομένων. ]

[Footnote 26: See Il. vi. 289.

. . . . "Mantles of all hues, accomplish'd works
Of fair Sidonians wafted o'er the deep. "
]

[Footnote 27: See Book I. ]




BOOK VI.


Calasiris and Cnemon betook themselves to their apartments on the
men's side of the house, and composed themselves to rest. The night
was quickly past, great part of it having been consumed in the
preceding feast, and subsequent narration; but it passed too slowly for
their impatience; and almost before day they were up, and presented
themselves to Nausicles, urging him to inform them where he thought
Theagenes was, and to lead them to him as soon as possible. He was
not slow in complying with their request, and they set out under his
direction. Chariclea was very earnest to accompany them, but they
pressed, and at last obliged, her to remain where she was; Nausicles
assuring her that they were not going far, and that they would soon
return, and bring Theagenes with them. Here then they left her,
struggling between sorrow for their departure, and joy for the promised
hope of seeing her lover.

They had scarcely got out of the village, and were proceeding along
the banks of the Nile, when they saw a crocodile creeping from the
right side of the river to the left, and making his way swiftly down
the stream. The rest of the party being used to the sight, regarded
it with indifference, although Calasiris secretly thought that it
portended some impediment in their expedition. But Cnemon was very much
frightened at its appearance, though he could hardly be said to have
seen the animal itself, but had rather had a glimpse of the shadow: he
was so terrified as almost to run away. Nausicles burst into a laugh.
"Cnemon," said Calasiris, "I thought you were apt to be terrified only
in the darkness and obscurity of the night; but I see your courage
shows itself even in the day-time. It is not only names that affright
you,[1] but the commonest and most every-day appearance puts you quite
into a trepidation. "--"Prithee tell me what god, or what demon is it,"
said Nausicles, "whose name this valiant Grecian cannot bear? "

"If it were the name of a deity," replied the old man, "there might be
something in it; but it is the appellation of a mortal, and that not
of a celebrated hero, nor even of a man; but of a weak woman, and, as
he says, of a dead one too, at the mention of which he is disordered
and trembles. That night in which you returned from the buccaneers,
bringing with you my dearest Chariclea, this said name was, somehow or
other, mentioned in his hearing: it put him into such an agitation,
that he had no sleep all night, nor suffered me to enjoy any; he was
half dead with fear, and I had the greatest difficulty in the world to
bring him to himself; and were I not afraid of terrifying, or giving
him pain, I would now mention the name, that you might laugh the
more:"--and immediately he uttered the word _Thisbe_. But Nausicles did
not laugh, as he expected; he became grave and pensive, doubting and
pondering why and by reason of what intimacy Cnemon felt so much at the
mention of Thisbe.

Cnemon upon this burst out into an immoderate fit of laughter in
his turn. "See," said he, "my dear Calasiris, the mighty magic of
this name; it is not only a bugbear which disturbs, as you say, all
my faculties, but it has the same effect upon Nausicles; with this
difference, however, that the certainty of her death inclines me to
laughter, when the same news seems to make him sorrowful, who was
before so disposed to be merry at the expense of others. "--"Spare
me," said Nausicles; "you have sufficiently revenged yourself: but I
conjure you by the gods of hospitality and friendship--by the kind and
sincere reception which you have met with at my house and table--that
you will tell me how you became so well acquainted with the name of
Thisbe--whether you really have known her, or only pretend to have done
so, out of sport, and to vex me? "--"It is now your turn, Cnemon," said
Calasiris, "to turn narrator. You have frequently promised to make me
acquainted with your condition and adventures, and as often, on some
pretext or other, have put it off: you cannot have a better opportunity
of doing so than the present: you will oblige both Nausicles and me;
and lighten, by your story, the fatigues of our journey. "

Cnemon suffered himself to be persuaded, and entered upon his history,
relating briefly, what he had before told more at length to Theagenes
and Chariclea--That he was an Athenian--that his father was Aristippus,
and his stepmother Demæneta--her execrable love, and the snares she
laid for him on its disappointment, by the ministry of Thisbe--the
particulars of these--his flight from his country, and condemnation as
a patricide--his exile at Ægina--his hearing from Charias of the death
of Demæneta, betrayed by her own wicked assistant Thisbe--what Anticles
related to him of the distress his father fell into; the family of
Demæneta combining against him, and persuading the people that he had
murdered her--the flight of Thisbe from Athens, with a Naucratian
merchant, who was in love with her--his sailing with Anticles to
Egypt, in search of Thisbe; in order, if he could find her, to bring
her back to Athens, to clear his father, and punish her--the various
difficulties and dangers he went through, both by sea and pirates--how,
having escaped these, and arrived in Egypt, he was again taken by the
pirates--his meeting and connection with Theagenes and Chariclea--the
death of Thisbe--and every thing in order, till he came to his meeting
with Calasiris and Nausicles, and to those facts and events with which
they were acquainted.

Nausicles meanwhile revolved a thousand thoughts in his mind--now
he was about to disclose all his transactions with Thisbe, and now
inclined to defer it to another opportunity; but his eagerness for
speaking had almost got the better of him, when some remains of
reserve, and an accident which happened by the way, prevented his
unbosoming himself for the present. They had travelled about eight
miles, and were near to the village where Mithranes dwelt, when
Nausicles meeting an acquaintance, inquired whither he was going in so
much haste.

"Do you not know," he replied, "that all my exertions have now but
one aim, that of executing the behests of Isias of Chemmis? I labour
for her, I supply her with every thing she wants. I wake day and
night in her service. I refuse no commission, small or great, which
the dear Isias imposes on me, though toil and loss are all I have
hitherto gotten for my pains. I am now making what haste I can with
this bird which you see, a flamingo[2] of the Nile, carrying it to my
mistress, according to her commands. "--"What an amiable mistress you
have got," said Nausicles, "how light are her commands! how fortunate
you are that she has not ordered you to bring her a phœnix, instead of
a phœnicopter! "--"She does all these things," said the other, "out of
wanton sport to make a jest of me--but may I ask where you are bending
your course? "

When he had learned that they were going to Mithranes--"You are on a
sleeveless errand," said he, "for Mithranes is not now here; he has
this evening led out his troops on an expedition against the buccaneers
of Bessus; for Thyamis, their leader, has made an incursion into his
territories, and taken from him one of his captives, a Grecian youth,
whom he was preparing to send to Oroondates, at Memphis; and from
thence, as I suppose, as a present to the Great King. But I must be
gone to Isias, (who is now, perhaps, looking for me with eager eyes),
lest my delay offend my charmer; she is but too ready to seize a
pretence, however slight, to flout and quarrel with me. " While these
words were yet in his mouth, he hurried off, leaving his hearers
confused and stupified at his tidings.

Nausicles was the first who broke silence. He tried to encourage his
companions; and told them, that they ought not to lose heart, and
entirely lay aside their undertaking, on account of this short and
temporary disappointment. That now, indeed, it was necessary to return
to Chemmis, as well to consult upon what they had farther to do, as to
make preparations for a longer expedition, which must be undertaken in
search of Theagenes, whether he was with the buccaneers or anywhere
else; but that he had good hopes of finding and recovering him:
for he conceived that it was not without some kind interposition of
Providence, that they had so fortunately met with an acquaintance whose
intelligence put them into the right track, and plainly pointed out to
them the pirate-settlement, as the first place where they were to seek
their friend.

They assented, without difficulty, to his proposal; what they had heard
giving them a glimmering hope, and Cnemon privately assuring Calasiris
that he was sure that Thyamis would watch over the safety of Theagenes.
They determined therefore to return to Chemmis, where, being arrived,
they found Chariclea at the house door, with outstretched neck and
eager eyes, looking on every side for their appearance. As soon as she
saw them, and no Theagenes with them, fetching a deep and melancholy
sigh--"Are you alone! " she cried, "Father? Do you return even as you
set out? --Theagenes then is no more! Tell me, by the gods I beseech
you, if you have any tidings for me! and whatever they may be, do not
increase my misery by delaying them. There is a degree of humanity in
discovering quickly unfortunate intelligence: the soul collects at once
all its powers of resistance, and the shock is sooner over. "

Cnemon hastening to repress her rising anguish--"How ready are you,"
said he, "to foretell calamities! You generally, however, prove a false
prophetess, and so far you do well--Theagenes is not only living,
but, I trust in the gods, safe;"--and he told her, briefly, in what
condition, and where he was. "Ah, Cnemon! " said Calasiris, "one would
think, from what you say, that you had never been in love! Do not
you know that they who really love are apprehensive of the slightest
trifles, and believe only their own eyes, when the situation of their
lovers is concerned? Absence always fills their languishing souls with
fear and torment; they imagine that nothing but the most invincible
necessity can ever make them separate from each other. Forgive
Chariclea, therefore, who labours under the extremity of this passion,
and let us enter the house, and consider what we have to do;"--and
taking Chariclea's hand, and soothing her with paternal tenderness, he
led her in.

Nausicles, willing to solace his friends after their fatigues, and
having, besides, a farther private end of his own, prepared a more
than usually choice entertainment for them alone and his daughter,
whom he commanded to dress and adorn herself with uncommon bravery and
splendour. Towards the end of the feast he thus addressed them:

"I call the gods to witness, my friends, that your company is so
agreeable to me, that I should be happy if you would spend the
remainder of your lives here, and enjoy, in common with me, my wealth
and pleasures. I wish to consider you so much more in the light of
friends than guests, that I shall think nothing too much which I can
bestow upon, or partake with you. I am ready also to give you every
advice and assistance in my power, towards the recovery of your lost
relation, as long as I can stay with you; but you know that I am a
merchant, and that it is by this profession that I procure and increase
my substance. And now, as the west winds have set in favourably, have
opened the sea for navigation, and promise a prosperous season, my
affairs call loudly upon me to sail into Greece. I am very desirous,
therefore, of hearing what you propose to do, that I may endeavour, as
much as possible, to accommodate my schemes to yours. " Here he paused;
and Calasiris, after a short pause, answered him:--"Ο Nausicles!
may your voyage be fortunate! --may Hermes, the patron of gain, and
Neptune the preserver, protect and accompany your expedition--may they
lead you through smooth seas, may they make every haven safe--every
city easy of access to you, and every inhabitant favourable to your
undertakings--these are the sincere and grateful wishes of those
whom you have received, and now, at their own request, dismiss after
observing the exact law of friendship and hospitality. Though it is
grievous and painful to us to leave you, and to depart from your
house, which with so much generosity you have taught us in a manner to
consider as our own; yet it is incumbent upon, and unavoidable for us,
to apply ourselves immediately to the search and recovery of our lost
friend. This is the fixed purpose of myself and Chariclea: let Cnemon
speak for himself--whether he had rather gratify us, by accompanying
us in our wanderings, or has any other project in his mind. " Cnemon
seemed now desirous of answering in his turn; and, preparing to speak,
fetched, on a sudden, a deep sigh, and tears for some time stopped his
utterance: at length collecting and composing himself as well as he
could, he said--

"Ο fortune, fickle and uncertain goddess! how dost thou shower
down misfortunes upon us miserable mortals! but upon none have thy
persecutions been exerted with more unremitting severity than upon
me. You deprived me of my family and father's house; banished me from
my country and friends--after a long interval of calamities which I
pass over, shipwrecked me upon the coast of Egypt; delivered me over
to pirates; shewed me, at last, a glimmering of comfort, by making
me acquainted with men, unfortunate, indeed, like myself, but at the
same time Greeks, and such as I hoped to spend the remainder of my
life with; but now you deprive me of this consolation, where shall I
turn myself? What ought I to do? Shall I desert Chariclea, who has not
yet recovered Theagenes? That would be infamous and abominable? Or
shall I follow and attend her in her search? If there were a probable
prospect of finding him, the hope of success would sweeten, and
authorize my toils; but if that expectation is distant and uncertain,
and the undertaking discouraging and difficult, who can tell where my
wanderings will end? May I not, then, hope that you, and the deities
of friendship, will forgive me, if I venture to mention a return to my
family and country? especially since the gods offer me so unlooked-for
an opportunity, in the voyage which Nausicles proposes making into
Greece. Ought I to let slip so favourable an occasion? since, should
any thing have happened to my father, his house will be left desolate,
and his name and estate without a successor: and though I may be
destined to spend the remainder of my days in poverty, yet it will be
desirable and right in me, to preserve in my own person the remnant of
my race. But, Ο Chariclea! I am most anxious to excuse myself to you,
and to beg your forgiveness, which I beseech you to grant me. I will
follow you as far as the quarters of the buccaneers; and will beg the
favour of Nausicles, however pressed he may be in time, to wait for
me so long. If perchance I should be so fortunate as to deliver you
there into the hands of Theagenes, I shall then appear to have been a
faithful guardian of the precious deposit which has fallen under my
care, and shall set out on my own expedition with lucky omens, and a
quiet conscience. But if (which the gods forbid! ) I should be deceived
in this hope, I shall still, I trust, appear excusable, in that I have
gone so far, and have not left you alone, but in the hands of the
excellent Calasiris, your father, and best preserver. "

Chariclea meanwhile conjecturing, from many circumstances, that Cnemon
was in love with the daughter of Nausicles (for one who is herself
enamoured most easily detects the like affections in another), and
seeing, from the behaviour and expressions of Nausicles, that he was
very desirous for the alliance, that he had long been working at it,
and endeavouring to allure Cnemon into it; and thinking it, besides,
not perfectly proper, or free from suspicion, that he should any longer
be the companion of her journey--"My friend," said she, "let us entreat
you to act as is most agreeable to yourself: receive our best and most
grateful thanks for all the favours you have bestowed upon us, and the
good offices you have performed. For the future we have not so much
need of your cares and attention, nor is there now any necessity that
you should endanger your own fortunes, by waiting any longer upon ours.
Go, then, under happy auspices, to Athens; may you there again find
your family, and recover your estate. It would be blameable on you to
neglect the opportunity which Nausicles offers you: I and Calasiris
will struggle with the cross accidents which pursue us, till we may
perhaps, at last, find some end to our wanderings. If we meet with no
assistance from men, the gods, we trust, will not forsake us. "

"May the immortals," said Nausicles, "accompany Chariclea, according to
her prayers, and assist her in every thing! and may she soon recover
her friend and parents: her generous spirit and excellent understanding
well deserve success. Do you, Cnemon, regret no longer that you do not
bring Thisbe back again with you to Athens, especially when you may
accuse me of having carried her off clandestinely from thence; for
the merchant of Naucratium, the lover of Thisbe, was no other than
myself; nor have you any reason to apprehend distress or poverty. If
your inclinations coincide with mine, you may not only recover your
country and family, under my guidance, but enrich yourself to the
extent of any reasonable desires. If you are willing to marry, I offer
you my daughter, Nausiclea, with an ample portion, judging that I have
received enough in that I have learned your family and nation. "

Cnemon, seeing what had long been the object of his wishes and prayers,
now unexpectedly offered him beyond his hopes, eagerly replied, "I take
your offer with great joy, and gratitude;" and Nausicles immediately
delivered his daughter into his outstretched hand, and betrothed her
to him; and ordering those who were present to raise the nuptial song,
he himself opened the dance, making the entertainment furnish forth a
sudden wedding.

All the company were engaged in this joyous ceremony, the more
pleasant, because unlooked for: the song resounded through the
apartments, and during the whole night, the house shone with the
marriage torches. But Chariclea, retiring from the rest, betook herself
to her solitary chamber; where, having secured the door, and risking
as she thought no intrusion, she surrendered herself to all the stings
of frenzy. She let her dishevelled tresses fall upon her shoulders,
tore and discomposed her garments, and thus broke out:--"Aye! let me
too, in the manner he likes best, lead the dance before the overruling
evil genius; let lamentations be my songs, and tears my libations: let
darkness surround me, and obscure night preside over what I am about;"
and with this she extinguished her torch against the ground. "What a
dainty nuptial chamber has he provided me! He claims me for himself,
and keeps me solitary. Cnemon marries and joins in the dance; Theagenes
wanders a captive, perhaps, and in bonds; and provided he lives even
that were well. Nausiclea is betrothed and separated from me, who,
till this night, partook of my bed; and I am left alone and destitute.
Heaven knows that I grudge them not their good fortune; I wish them
all felicity; but I repine that I have no share of it myself. The
tragedy of my misfortunes has been prolonged beyond example. But what
avails it to spend my time in womanish lamentations! let the measure
of my calamities be filled up, since such is the will of heaven. But,
Ο Theagenes, my sweet and only care, if you are dead, and the dreadful
tidings (which may the gods forbid! ) should ever wound my ear, I swear
instantly to join you in the shades below. Meanwhile let me offer to
your spirit (if it has left the lovely body) these funeral rites"
(and immediately she plucked off handfuls of her hair and laid them
on the bed): "Let me pour a libation to you out of those eyes which
you hold so dear;" and with this she bedewed her couch with her tears.